As expected, Bia’s parents came to the mansion regularly after that day.
“Return my children!”
“What kind of law allows parents and children to be separated like this! This is kidnapping! Give us back our children!”
“Bia! Bia!”
They staged a protest in front of the gate. However, entering the mansion was impossible.
“Do you see that?”
That was because Seraphie had personally issued a warning.
She pointed to the wall. “Recently, some assassins tried to kill me. Unfortunately for them, not a trace was left, and they became a pool of blood.”
It was because of the god’s treasures planted along the mansion’s walls.
“If you’re curious whether I’m bluffing, feel free to step inside.”
“…”
“…”
Naturally, Bia’s parents turned pale and retreated. In truth, they had tried several times to approach the mansion but were repelled by an unseen force each time.
Seraphie, who had been silently watching them, spoke again. “If you truly care about your children, go back.”
“A-Are you telling us to die right now?”
“Why do you take it so dramatically?”
Not like they have the courage to actually do it.
Seraphie realized once again that they were the same type as the former Count Vallidus. Cowards like them would never have the courage to harm themselves.
“And let’s get the facts straight.” Seraphie corrected them. “Your children don’t want to live with you, so I took them in as part of my sponsorship.”
Those kids simply grasped the chance to live.
“You should be ashamed of living off the money your daughter worked so hard to earn.”
“We raised her!”
“She owes us!”
“She’s repaid that debt enough. Still don’t get it?” Seraphie kindly spelled it out for the foolish couple who had abandoned their child and been abandoned in return. “You’re still alive.”
“…”
“You two are still alive.”
Seraphie considered it a blessing that Bia hadn’t killed her parents.
“If I were your daughter, you’d already be buried in secret.”
“T-That’s ridiculous…!”
“Why is that so ridiculous?” Seraphie chuckled, shaking her shoulders as if she had heard a funny joke. “Isn’t it well known that I kicked out my own father?”
Before them stood the most infamous outcast in the empire.
Seraphie, deciding to be generous, offered them one last piece of advice. “Parents aren’t the only ones who can abandon their children. Children can also abandon their parents.”
In Seraphie’s opinion, the latter was the cruelest.
“To a child, parents are like gods from the day they’re born, but your children have turned their backs on such gods and come to me. What did that mean?”
“…”
“…”
No answer came.
“Reflect on that.”
Not that they would, but still. If they had been capable of reflecting, none of this would have happened in the first place.
“Oh, and I don’t particularly care if you report this as a kidnapping.” With those words and the warning that she would counter-sue for embezzlement of the sponsorship funds, Seraphie returned inside the mansion.
* * *
Though it seemed like a grand finish…
I did something so out of character. Damn it, damn!
Since that day, Seraphie had been lightly banging her head on the desk, berating herself for sticking her nose in where it didn’t belong. Normally, her personality wouldn’t allow her to say or do such things. How could she take care of others when she can barely take care of herself? But she simply couldn’t leave Bia in that house.
Helping when you can is the right thing to do, she thought, and she knew that if she went back in time, she’d do the same thing again. Unexpectedly, the family she had taken in turned out to have a positive influence on the mansion.
“Master.” The head maid entered the office with a bouquet of flowers. “These are from near the annex.”
“Did flowers like these grow there?”
Seraphie smiled as she admired the flowers being placed in a vase. She leaned in to smell them, catching a slightly earthy fragrance. It was the wild, green scent of field flowers.
“The painter’s younger siblings picked them from the annex.” The head maid smiled brightly as she spoke. “They asked me to give them to Master.”
“Those kids already know how to bribe, huh. They’re going to be something big one day.”
Seraphie and the head maid exchanged amused smiles.
“Are those children doing well?”
“They’re doing so well that it’s almost a problem.”
Though the building hadn’t been inhabited for a long time, it was still the annex of a noble family. For children who had been cramped in a small, run-down house, the mansion’s annex was like a palace. For the first time in their lives, they each had their own room, meals made with fresh ingredients, and they didn’t have to go hungry. They could bathe in hot water every day and play freely without worrying about their parents. Thanks to that, Bia could focus on her paintings.
“The eldest and third child are especially bright.” The head maid said earnestly that she hoped the children would continue to do well.
She seems to like children.
Sensing Seraphie’s gaze, the head maid smiled awkwardly and explained. “It just reminds me of when you were young, Master.”
Ah, like Mother. Seraphie realized that the head maid, like the great madam, carried a small sense of guilt for not being able to protect Seraphie when she was a child.
After wrapping up her morning duties, Seraphie went to the great madam’s room.
“Mother, are you awake?”
“Sera.” The great madam took off her glasses and welcomed her daughter.
“Have you been studying since this morning?”
“My eyes opened early today.”
The desk where the great madam had been sitting was cluttered with books and papers.
“You didn’t sleep well again, did you?”
“No, nothing like that.”
The great madam reassured her daughter, gently tapping the back of Seraphie’s hand. But Seraphie couldn’t relax, even under that kind gesture.
The great madam had been suffering from insomnia for quite some time, and it was no secret that her good-for-nothing husband was to blame. Still, her condition had noticeably improved since the former count had been imprisoned.
“Besides, I’ve been busy teaching the children lately,” the great madam chuckled as she spoke.
Bia’s younger siblings were learning to read from her for an hour each day. It was unheard of for a noble to teach commoners, but the great madam found great comfort in having the children study in her room.
“The oldest child is especially clever.”
Seraphie had heard the same from the head maid earlier. She wondered if she should sponsor that child more seriously as well.
“As long as you’re happy, Mother. That’s all that matters.”
Hearing Seraphie’s words, the great madam nodded with her eyes closed. “It’s all thanks to you, Sera.”
“Even if you praise me like that, there’s not much more I can do.”
“My, such a cold countess you are.”
“Please call me a clever countess instead.”
After chatting lightly with her mother, Seraphie returned to her office. I couldn’t ask her…
The great madam was indeed getting better, but she still hadn’t left her room.
Should I just completely renovate the mansion? Seraphie had thought about it many times before, and now she felt she should seriously consider it.
* * *
As promised, Peonia sent Seraphie an invitation to the tea party.
It feels different coming here like this.
Seraphie had often visited the Felicia estate to meet Orkis for business, but this was her first time coming for another person and another purpose. Because of that, the once-familiar estate felt a bit strange.
“Welcome, Countess.”
Peonia personally greeted Seraphie as she stepped out of the carriage. Seraphie smiled brightly in response to Peonia’s warm welcome.
Wow, so beautiful…!
Peonia had looked impressive and composed in the barren wasteland, but now, dressed appropriately for the tea party, she was even more stunning.
If I had to end up possessing someone else’s body, it would have been nice to become Peonia’s personal maid. That way, she could see that pretty face every day. Seraphie felt a bit wistful.
The tea party was held in a pavilion with a clear view of the outdoor garden. Seraphie seemed to be the last guest to arrive, as all the seats at the table were taken except for two.
“Have you been here before?” Peonia asked.
“No, it’s my first time.”
The empire was entering early summer. With the warming weather, the garden was dazzling with lush green trees and vibrant summer flowers. Seraphie unconsciously sniffed the air. The scent of the healthy grass stood out more than the sweet fragrance of the flowers.
“That man doesn’t have much of an eye for delicate things,” Peonia grumbled about Orkis as naturally as breathing.
They really are siblings. Seraphie thought, realizing once again that even in the novel, characters could be harsh toward their own family.
“All he knows is how to work, and he’s clueless when it comes to paying attention to others or taking care of things.”
“Haha…” Seraphie chuckled awkwardly, glancing at the white gloves she was wearing. Still, your brother bought these for me.
During a business meeting, Seraphie had cut her finger on some paper, and the next day Orkis had brought her these gloves and scolded her to wear them.
“Still, my brother treats Countess better than most people.” Peonia suddenly stopped walking. “In the courtroom.”
“In the courtroom?” Seraphie stopped as well, repeating Peonia’s words.
“He wrapped his handkerchief around your neck, didn’t he?”
Instinctively, Seraphie touched her neck.
“Honestly, I found it strange. That handkerchief is something my brother cherishes quite a bit, so I wondered if he liked Countess.”
Why is she bringing this up now? They were almost at the tea party pavilion, but Peonia held Seraphie back, continuing to chatter.
…These siblings are alike. Their tendency to talk too much about odd things must be genetic. Seraphie suddenly felt much closer to Peonia for some reason.
“Anyway, what I wanted to say is…” Realizing she had been rambling, Peonia hurriedly got to the point, her face turning a bit red with embarrassment. “Thank you for getting along with my brother.”
Seraphie blinked in surprise at the unexpected gratitude. It didn’t seem like a joke; Peonia’s expression was completely sincere.
“My brother tends to be very selective about people. You know he’s rumored to be a misanthrope, right?”
“I didn’t know that.”
“Oh dear.”
For the first time in her life, Peonia regretted letting something slip.
“…”
But Seraphie wasn’t particularly bothered. After all, she already knew from the original story that Orkis had such a reputation, which only made the original story seem all the more strange.
Hi, if you enjoy the story, please leave a review in the Novelupdates. Thank you~
